The First Approach 



VITAL GROWTH 

 AND CRYSTALLIZATION 



1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRYSTALS UNDER VARIOUS 



CONDITIONS 



Let us start then on our journey of exploration to search 

 for those features of non-living matter which imitate life. 

 Let us see whether we can find any similarity at all. 



The most universal feature of all life is, of course, growth. 

 The growth of a large tree from a diminutive seed, or the 

 development of a large animal from a microscopic germ cell, 

 seems to be far beyond the reach of any explanation. The 

 multiplicity of the components of the human body is so 

 enormous that their mere enumeration and description form 

 the object of an entire science, that of anatomy. 



How is it possible for all these structures to arise from a 

 plain round cell which is not much more than a simple ball 

 and smaller than a dust particle floating in the air? 



Since science is obviously not in a position to answer this 

 question, it is wiser to start on a simpler problem. Simpler 

 forms develop in lifeless matter: the growth of a crystal is 

 an example. Any salt or sugar and many other substances 

 form crystals which can be recognized by their definite 

 shape, such as needles, pyramids, or cubes, having sharp 

 edges and smooth planes. Such crystals form when a salt 

 solution slowly evaporates in a flat dish. 



Water alone if sufficiently cooled will crystallize or freeze, 

 as we call it; thus snow crystals form from water vapor in 

 the cold upper reaches of the atmosphere. The variety and 

 beauty of these crystals is strikingly revealed under slight 

 magnification (Fig. 4). 



We can well understand the nature of crystallization, 



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